Cannabis Concentrates 101: A Thorough Guide to Types and Tests
Cannabis concentrates are one of the fastest-growing categories of manufactured products, celebrated for their potency and fast-acting effects. These products have many forms and names, and it can get confusing to tell the difference between them. To help you make sense of all your options, we created this comprehensive guide to all things concentrates.
In this blog, you will learn:
What concentrates are
The difference between extracts and non-extracts
Types of concentrates available to consumers
How cannabis testing labs analyze concentrates
What are concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are highly potent products derived from the cannabis plant. Created by separating desired compounds from excess plant material, concentrates are known for their elevated levels of phytocannabinoids.
With some products reaching THC levels higher than 80%, the effects of cannabis concentrates are typically more physically and psychologically intense than those of cannabis flower.
Types of cannabis concentrate
When it comes to the different types of concentrates, it can be easiest to separate them into two categories: extraction with solvents and solventless extraction. Because all extracts are concentrates, but not all concentrates are extracts, it is important to recognize the difference.
In general, extracts cover a wide category of concentrates made with or without a solvent. We will explain both types below.
Extraction with solvents
For the most part, different extracted cannabis concentrates are described simply by their appearance and texture. Shatter, budder or badder, oil, and crumble, for example, are all able to be made from the same starting material. Here are the forms of concentrate made from cannabis extract that you can expect to find at the dispensary.
Shatter: Named for its physical appearance and breakability, shatter is a thin, clear form of extract produced via ethanol extraction. The cannabis extract is poured onto a sheet and left to cool. Typically amber in color, shatter is a favorite among dab enthusiasts because of its physically stable form and long-lasting shelf-life.
Crumble: Also referred to as crumble wax or honeycomb wax, crumble is another form of cannabis extract named after its physical appearance and breakability. Known as one of the driest forms of cannabis concentrate, crumble is created similarly to shatter, but requires lower heat than shatter for a longer time period. While similar to shatter in terms of color, crumble is much thicker and drier in texture and consistency.
Wax: Extremely sticky and honey-like in form, wax is a type of concentrate made from moisture-rich oil. Often referred to as “budder” or “badder,” wax results from an extraction process using butane as a solvent to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from plant buds and trimmings.
CO₂ Oil: When a concentrate is produced via carbon dioxide, rather than butane, it can be referred to as CO₂ oil. CO₂ oils have a more runny consistency and are typically used in vape pens, edibles, and syringes for oral consumption. Because oils need lower levels of heat to create, they are also able to maintain higher levels of terpenes through the process.
Live Resin: Live resin is a full-spectrum cannabis concentrate made from flash frozen cannabis plants. It is created by extracting compounds from flower that was frozen immediately after harvest. This preserves the potency and flavor of the terpenes. A favorite for dabbers and vapers, live resin is typically extremely flavorful and sticky.
Sauce: Sauce is a cannabis extract with a very sticky, liquid consistency with crystallized terpenes throughout. Created using solvents like butane, propane, ethanol, or CO₂, sauce is known for its high terpene potency and strong flavors. It can be made from either fresh frozen or cured flowers, though fresh frozen cannabis plants that are immediately frozen for processing after harvest tend to offer the highest terpene content.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO): Named after a Canadian hospital engineer who treated his skin cancer with his homemade cannabis oil, RSO is a concentrate created by washing cannabis flowers in a solvent and boiling it off to leave behind oil. It contains very high levels of THC and is usually black and gooey. RSO is an activated concentrate, which means it can be ingested orally and will take effect without heat.
Tincture: Tinctures are liquid concentrates of cannabis created through ethanol extraction. This draws out many of the plant’s phytocannabinoids and leaves an oil that can be ingested orally.
Solventless extraction
A whole other category of concentrates does not use a solvent. Instead they use heat, pressure, or a combination or both to create potent and flavorful cannabis concentrates. Examples of these types of concentrates include:
Rosin: Rosin is created using a combination of heat and pressure to extract resin from the plant. Translucent and sappy, rosin does not require chemical extraction to produce.
Hash: Hash is the longest-standing form of concentrate curated from the cannabis plant. Known as a low-tech concentrate, it is created by removing the plant’s resin glands and compressing them repeatedly until they form a solid, slabbed piece. Hash is typically a brownish-gold color and can be consumed in traditional pipes, papers, or dab rigs.
Kief: Kief is a form of cannabis concentrate that is an accumulation of trichomes and resin glands that naturally fall from flower. Put simply, it is what collects in the third compartment of cannabis grinders. Because of the heavy concentration of trichomes, kief is more potent than flower and is often reserved and added to other cannabis products.
Considerations for testing cannabis concentrates
While guidelines for cannabis concentrate testing vary from state to state, it is always important that manufacturers have their products tested for both potency and contaminants before bringing them to market. See below for a full list of the services offered by cannabis testing labs like True Labs for Cannabis.
Potency
Potency testing is a requirement for all cannabis products to assure quality and efficacy for consumers. These tests provide cannabis companies with the required information for labels notifying users of a product’s potency and concentration of active cannabinoids. It is extremely important that cannabis is labeled with all of the active ingredients and their potencies so consumers can anticipate how a product might influence them.
Residual solvents
Because cannabis concentrates are commonly made by using solvents like butane and ethanol, it is possible for some trace amounts of such to be left even after cleaning protocols are performed. As a result, it is important that manufacturers send their concentrates to labs like True Labs for Cannabis to ensure the product is clear of any remaining solvents and ready for use.
Pesticides
Because pesticides are commonly used in agricultural processes, testing cannabis concentrates for pesticide residue is important to ensure that products do not pose any health risks to consumers. Because 80% of cannabis concentrates have tested positive for some sign of pesticides, and states like New Jersey prohibit use of such, testing is essential.
Microbials
Microbes are microorganisms that occur commonly in cannabis plants due to the warm and humid growing environment. When it comes to inhalation and ingestion, many microbes pose a significant health risk to humans. In fact, microbes are such a big risk that states like New Jersey require manufacturers have their products tested for molds, mildews, and fungi.
Heavy metals
Because cannabis is a bioaccumulating plant, it is especially susceptible to the absorption of heavy metals. Heavy metals within soil and fertilizers can present danger to consumers when present at high enough levels. Heavy metal testing is required for cannabis products in states like New Jersey to ensure that they are safe for inhalation or ingestion.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by fungi. Of all the contaminants that could be found in cannabis plants, mycotoxins are among the most dangerous, as this contaminant can cause many health issues.
Cannabis concentrate testing in action in New Jersey
As new and innovative cannabis products like cannabis concentrates are set to come to market in New Jersey, True Labs for Cannabis offers testing to ensure product potency and consumer safety. Our East Hanover, New Jersey laboratory can test samples for potency, contaminants, and other concerns. Conducted with industry-leading techniques and equipment, the results provide the information customers need to make informed decisions and regulators need to ensure compliance with New Jersey’s program regulations. Visit our Services page to see a full list of services offered by True Labs for Cannabis.